Covered Bowl with a design of birds and flowers

Kakiemon is known as the father of iro-e (porcelain with polychrome overglaze enamels) in Japan. Shown is a large, early Kakiemon-type bowl with an accompanying lid topped with a knob in the shape of a lion-dog. Both the bowl and the lid feature a typical Kakiemon design of two birds resting on taikoseki (odd-shaped limestone tai-hu rocks) flanked by chrysanthemums and peonies. The piece was made to order for export to Europe.